Window construction



May 7, 1935.

J. N. VICTOR I WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NW N May 7, 1935. J. N. VICTOR WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 abhor/M Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE 17 Claims.

This invention relates to window constructions and particularly to a window construction of the casement type, including a stationary frame and a sash hingedly connected thereto for swinging movement about a vertical axis. 1 Primarily the invention is concerned with the design and construction of a casement window, the component elements of which are fabricated of wood, and it is the general object or" the invention to provide a window of this'type having a number of improved features of construction which, taken together,.render it superior, when in use, to other windows of, this general class which have been heretofore designed or suggested or actually used, and which is at the same time more convenient and economical to manu facture, ship, and install.

"The frame of the improved window is built up of relatively few parts, which parts are in themselves of great simplicityand can be readily andinexpensively fabricated upon, woodworking machines of known type by well-known methods.

Thesash may be of conventional type except in that the rails or frame members thereof are shaped in a novel manner so as to cooperate with certain portions of the frame in providing maximum protection against the passage of rain, dust, and wind pastthe window and into the room served by the window. The improved window may include also an inner sash, mounted in a novel manner upon the frame so as to swing inwardly of the frame, the completed window being in this case of either the double sash type or of the single sash with screen type, as desired.

While many kinds of casement Windows have heretofore been designed or suggested, fabricated of wooden as well as metallic material, but few of generally satisfactory type have made their appearance upon the market) Thuscasement Windows designed particularly with the end in view of totally excluding rain, snow, dust, and gusts of air have generally been complicated and expensive to fabricate and have, generally speakingofiered little protection against the entrance of rain, etc, around the margin'of the closed sash after slight warping has occurred, particularly after slight warping of the sash itself. The present invention provides a window of thisclass in which a very satisfactory measure of protection of this kind is always realized, even after considerable warping of the sash has occurred.

The invention further contemplates a novel and improved form of drainage means whereby water of condensation ,or rain water which may have directly penetrated past the .outersealing surfaces of the sash and frame is collected and removedto a point of disposal adjacent the bottom of the frame, this improved drainage means being especially useful in preventing the gradual creeping" of moisture past the'sash after prolonged exposure to rain, a defect almost universally present in casement windows of the type now and heretofore made use of by the public. Attractiveness in appearance, low cost of manufacture and shipment, and durability are also considerations which were given extended study in perfecting the window which comprises the subject matter of this invention; and it is believed that the improved window poss'e sses these advantages to an unusual degree.

In the accompanying drawings one embodimentof the invention is disclosed by way of example." It will be'appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, that the invention may be widely variedin its non-essential particulars.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through the window, with sash and screen inpartially opened positions;

'Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section through the same; H

Figure 3 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a portion of the frame;

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the top member .of the frame and the upper members of the sash and screen, showing the sash and screen in closed position;

Figure 5 is a cross-section through a transom bar to which certain features, of the invention have been applied; p Figurefi is a similar view through a mullion or dividing bar between two separate window spaces;

and

Figure 7 is a transverse section throughjche frame member and sash rail of a modified form of window or .door construction in which a weath-,

erstrip is included.

'The frame comprises essentially a header or top member ill, an outer sill or bottom member H, and vertical stiles or side members I 2. Secured to the side framefmembers l2 and header Iii; and projectingloutwardly thereof, are trim members I3, and projecting. inwardly from the frame proper is an extension comprising stile or side'frame member extensions 14, header extension I 5, and theinnersill I6. Secured to the inner edges of members 14 and I5 are the inner trim elements I! of well-known type. The several members'which comprise the window frame proper are preferably formed substantially as shown in the drawings and are secured together preferably in the manner shown, by nails, screws, or the like, but the several extension members and the various trim members may be varied considerably in design and'construction without departure from the invention, in adapting the window to the walls of buildings which differ in thickness, type, and materials of construction. As will be seen from an inspection of the drawings, the inner faces of header l0, side frame members [2, and sill II have the same configuration in major respects.

The sash is generally indicated at l8 and comprises essentially a rectangular frame having top.

and bottom rails l9 and 20, side rails 2 l, and pane supporting cross members 22 of any desired type and located at any desired points; While the outer rails of the sash may vary in cross-sectional area, for instance, as shown in Figure 2, the crosssectional outer profile is substantially constant around the entire perimeter of the sash, such'sash being provided with three laterally spaced and offset surfaces adapted to contact tightly, when the sash is closed,,with three corresponding surfaces formed on the frameso as to form three successive seals or water tight barriers against the entrance of drafts of air, water, or dust. Thus the several rails of the sash include flanges 23 and shoulders 24, the inner faces of which extend continuously around the sash and are located respectively in planes parallel to the plane of the inner surface of the sash frame, which surface is indicated at 25. When the sash is closed, in which position it is shown in Figure 4, the inner face of the projecting flange 23 thereof is in close contact with an outwardly facing continuous surface inclicated'at 26, surface 26 being either the outer surface of the adjacent frame member, as in the case of the header [0 and side frame members 12, or the outwardly facing surface of a shoulder such as the shoulder. 21 formed on the sill member ll. I

,The continuous inner face of the "continuous shoulder 24 .of the sash is adapted to contact with an outwardly facing continuous surface formed on a shoulder 28, such a shoulder being form'ed on each of the several members which taken together comprise the window frame." The inner face 25 of the sash is adapted to closely contact with the outer face of a stop member 30, which stop' member extends continuously around the frame interiorly thereof and is of the same cross- 'section throughout its length. This stop member is formed separately'f'rom the main frame members and is secured thereto by any suitable means, as by nails or screws. The inner faces of the top and'side rails of'the sash, indicated at l9 and 2| respectively, come to rest against the outer faces of this stop member alone, but the inner face of the bottom member of the sash may if desired, rest partly against the outer face of such stop member and partly against the outwardly facing surface of portion of the'sill upon which the stop member rests, if desired, as shown that, with the exception of the abutment or sealing surfaces of sash and frame just referred to, there is no contact'between these main members. The outside dimensions of the sash, measured both horizontally and vertically, are slightly less than the corresponding inside dimensions of the frame so that, when the frame is firmly mounted for swinging movement in a fixed path, as by means of the hinges 32, no portion thereof will contact with the frame, when the sash is moved to closed position, except the three sealing surfaces previously described. There is thus'at no time any sliding movement of'the sash relatively to the frame, no frictional resistance to closure, and no likelihood of binding due to slight warping of the sash relatively to the frame. Thus a particularly efficient seal against the entrance of dust, air, and rain is provided, without the use of weatherstrips or the like which interfere greatly with the freedom of movement of the sash relatively to the frame and promote rapid deterioration of the sash due to the severe strains which would be imposed upon it in its opening and closing movements, were such weatherstrips employed.

Due to slight warping of the members which form the sash, it is sometimes possible for water to penetrate past the sealing surfaces when heavy rains occur, and in order to collect and conduct away such water or any possible water of condensation, a special drainage duct is provided, which duct includes grooves 33 formed exteriorly of the sash and grooves 34 formed interiorly of the frame, the groove 33 extending continuously around the sash and intermediate its inner face and the next continuous sealing surface, and groove 34 being formed in the header member ID and side frame members l2 of the frame. It will be observed that the sash groove 33 is larger in cross-section than the frame groove 34 and also that the frame groove 34 is so formed that there is, at the intersection of its outer curved Wall and the flat inner face of the frame member in which it is formed, a relatively sharp shoulder 36.

It is impossible for water penetrating past the first two sealing surfaces to pass beyond the shoulder 36 of groove 34, at the top of the sash, as it Will not creep upwardly along the curved wall of groove 34 but will, on the other hand, collect on the sharp shoulder and, as drops are formed, fall into groove 33 of the sash. Water collecting in this manner in the topmost or horizontal portion of groove 33 will flow laterally to the sides of the sash and thence downwardly through the vertical portions of this groove and the vertical portions of groove 34 onto the upper surface of sill ll. Notches 31 and 38 formed in shoulders 21 and 28 of the sill permit the free escape of water thus deposited upon the upper surface of the sill.

The registering grooves 33 and 34 not only prevent passage of water to the interior of the sash between the uppermost members of sash and frame but are equally effective along the vertical members of the frame and sash.

The continuous stop member 3!) has been previously described as having an outwardly facing abutment surface against which the inner face of the sash bears when the sash is in closed position. This stop furthermore has an inwardly facing continuous surface, indicated at 40, which comprises an abutment surface for the top, bottom, and side rails of a screen 4| which is supported for swinging movement upon hinges 42 affixed to one vertical element of the stop, as shown in Figure 1. The frame is provided with a continuous shoulder 43 having an inwardly facing surface H, and seated against this shoulder is an outwardly facing surface formed upon-the stop member, the position of the stop member being thus definitely located by the shoulder 43. It may be said, therefore, that-the stop member 30 has two extensions projectingin planes parallel to thesash, when the sash-is'inclosed position, one extension projecting in a direction away from the frame and comprising the abutment for the screen and a portion of the abutment for the sash, and the other extension extending toward the frame and fitting closely behind-the shoulder 43 formed on the frame. As has been before noted, any suitable securing means for fastening the stop to the frame maybe employed. In describing the stop as a continuous" member, it is, of course, not meant thatthis member is a single member and, as a matter of fact, it isformed in four or more straight sections individually secured to the associated members of the frame.

Y By forming the stop member as shown in the drawings, numerous advantagesare ralized- By reason of the fact that it seats firmly against shoulder 43 of the frame, it cannot be drivenoutwardly relatively to the frame, by hanging of the screen, so as to interfere with the complete closure of the sash. The inner end of the-stop member, being thickened by reason of the extension seated in rear of shoulder 43, is stronger than it would be were this extension not present; so that it is quite possible to attach hingesgsuch as indicated at 42, by drivingthe hinge plates into the wood instead of by the use of, nails or screws. Again, by forming the stop in the manner illustrated, it is possible to use wider screen rails with- Y out obstructing the view through the window, which is a material advantage. Finally, by reason of the fact that the outwardly extending rib of the stop member fits snugly against the shoulder 43 of the frame, a further sealing effect is realized.

Despite the special features of the frame and sash above set forth, the various members thereof may be easily and rapidly fabricated upon wellkn'own types of woodworking machines. It is not necessary that the frame members be assembled together into the final structure at the factory, as is the case with other types of casement windows, but the window frame may be shipped from the factory in knocked-down condition and later assembled by any carpenter in a relatively short time, thus saving greatly in the cost of shipment. When the various frame members are shipped in this condition, they may be wrapped or placed in a carton, thus making it possible to ship the frames without danger of injury.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, the stop bar or member which comprises a feature of the invention may be'readily applied to transom bars and mullions, and the multiple sealing features of the invention may be also'made use of in connection with such constructions.

In certain instances it may be desirable to provide the improved window ordoor construction with Weatherstripping, especially where exeffectual seal against the entrance of air and water under all conditions. As will be seen from an inspection of Figure? of the drawings, the frame member l2 and abutment member 30 are the same as before, but the profile of the sash is modified in that its intermediate-show der 24' is cut back so as to be substantially spaced from the shoulder 28 of the frame. The weatherstrip is indicated at 58 and comprises a resilient spring-like member fabricated of relatively 5 thin sheet metal, said member being elongated so as to extend. completely and continuously around the'sash and having one edge secured to the sash by nails 5| or other suitable securing 5B strikes the frame until the curved inner end of the stripstrikes the shoulder 28' of the frame, and this contact occurs only just before the sash reaches its final completely closed position so that there is practically no frictional to closing. when the spring does strike the shoulder 28' in the final closing movement'ofthe sash, it is distorted'from the dotted line to full line position, its free edge striking and tightly pressing against the inclined surface o'f shoulder 24""of the sash and its intermediate and'comparativ'ely flat portion being, as aresult, laterally deflected against the inner face 52 of the frame. In this position the strip provides two continuous seals against the passage of wind or water between frame and sash in addition-to the two continuous seals provided by the mutuallycon tacting "surfaces of these members themselves.

By reason of the fact that the Weatherstrip does not press againstthe frame until the-sash is so far closed that the Weatherstrip strikes shoulder 28, there is little or no tendency toward distortion of the sash due to closure." -in the case of weather-strips now conmionly used, there is great danger of sash warpage-duc' to the fact that'in' every case the contactpoint ofthe strip when in reposeis so positioned asto strike the frame as soon as the sashnears the frame and offers frictional resistance-to theentire finalclosing movement of the sash. Ihis excessive friction between the weatherstrip and the relatively movable "sash or frame. naturally causes wear, and the Weatherstrip finally beplained, it is not subject-to appreciable frictional wear and will form an-effective seal during theentire life of the window. In cross-sec mizes chances of fatigue. When the Weatherstrip described is used, an additional drain channel for water is realized, this channel being substantial ly triangular in cross-section and defined by the forward face of shoulder 28', the face 52 0f the frame member, and the adjacent portion I Weatherstrip. a H v I I I In locations where weatherstrippingis considered unnecessary, the strip may be omitted the construction illustrated provides, without the Weatherstrip, an efiective seal against 'theweather immany climates. The profile of the cash is such, however thatthe strip may beapplied with-ease whenever desired, .nocutting of the wooden members beingnecessary. I j i r -The novel sealing features, drainage ducts, and-stop member may be utilized in the design andconstruction of doors. While it is stated in 'the appended claims that theinvention is applied to casement windows, therefore, it will be understood that door constructions are also comprehended.

--Having thus described" the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Let ters Patentis: g

d. A casement window comprising a frame and sash, the sash being mounted for bodily movement laterally of the sash, said frame comprising top, bottom, and side members and there being a continuous shoulder formed thereon face inglaterally, and arstop member for the sash secured to said frame, said stop member extending. continuously around the frame, having the samecross-section atall'points, and having a shoulder abutting the aforementionedshoulder onthe frame. 1 .7

.2. A framefor a casement window having a continuous shoulder formed thereon and facing laterally thereof, a separately formed stop mem:

ber, extending continuously, around said frame.

on .the innerside thereof, said stop being provided with a shoulder adapted'to abut against the shoulder formed on the frame and also with a- 'surface'against which a sash may abut, and means rigidly securing said stop member to the frame. i

3. The, combination set forth inclaim 2 in which .the said stop member is provided with a second abutment surface against which a screen may contact.

=4. A- frame for a casement window'having a continuous shoulder extending therearound on therinner ,side thereof, a stop member extending-continuously around the frame and. having oppositely facing surfaces against'which a sash and screen may, respectively, abut, and a shoulder fittingagainst the shoulder onthe frame. 1 '5.--A frame for acasement window having a continuous shoulder extending, therearoundon the inner side thereof, and a stopmember likewise. extending continuously around the frame interiorly-thereof, said stop member having two oppositely extending projections, one of said pro,- Jections being seated against the shoulder on the frame and the other having oppositely facing surfaces constituting abutment surfaces for a sashand screen, respectively.

6. The. combination set forth in claim 5 in which arscreen is hingedly connected to said stop member. I r I i '7. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which the stop-member is of uniform section throughout. I 8.. The combir tion with relatively movable sashand frame members of a Weatherstrip, said .weatherstrip comprising an elongated resilient element having its'outer edge secured to the sash and" its free edge adapted to be deflected into contact with the sash when an intermedi ate portion thereof contacts with the frame upon closure 'of the sashi 9. In combination, a frame having a transverse-shoulder, a saslr, and aweatherstrip havingitsouteredge secured to the sash'and a p'or- "tion'adapt'ed' to strike said shoulder as the sash is moved'to final closing position.

10. In combination, relatively movable sash and frame members, one of said members hav ing a transverse shoulder, and a flexible weatherstrip having one edge secured to one member and a portion adapted to strike the shoulder of the other member when the sash is moved to closed position so as to effect flexure of said Weatherstrip.

11. In combinatiom relatively movable sash and frame, members and a flexible Weatherstrip secured toone member, said weather strip having a portion adapted to strike the other memher when the sash is closed and an intermediate portion'adapted to be deflected into sealing engagement withsaid other. member when such contact occurs.

. 12. In combination, relatively movable sash and-frame members and a flexible Weatherstrip, said Weatherstrip having one edge secured to one of said members and an intermediate portion adapted to contact with the other memthe Weatherstrip being deflected into contact with the member to which the strip .is secured when such contact occurs. I 13. In combination, relatively movable sash and frame members and a flexible metallic Weatherstrip having one edge secured to one of said members, an intermediate portion of said weatherstrip being adapted to contact with said other member when the sash is closed to effect distortion of the strip, the free edge of the stripbeing movedinto contact With the member to which the strip is secured, and another portion being deflected into contact with said other member when said distortion occurs.

14. In combination, relatively movable sash and frame members and a flexible metallic Weatherstrip, said eatherstrip having one edge attached to one of said members and having, when the sash is closed, its free edge in contact with the same member, and two intermediate portions in sealing relationship with the other member. I v

15; A casement window comprising a frame and a sash, said frame being formedof members having substantially the same cross sectional contour throughout the perimeter of said frame, said sash provided with top, bottom and side members all of substantially the same cross sectional contour, said frame and sash members each having a'plurality of spaced offset continuous surfaces disposed in planes parallel to the plane of the window and adapted to respectively contact with each other when the sash is closed, the outside dimensions of the sash measured in the plane of the sash being less than the corresponding inside dimensions of the frame so that no portions thereof except saidlcontinuous surfaces have contact with the frame when the sash is closed, a drainage groovev formed in the periphery of said frame, intermediate two of said offset meeting surfaces, and a drainage groove formed in the periphery of said sash and adapted to substantially register with the drainage groove of the frame when the sash is closed, the outer edge of the drainage groovein the frame overlying an intermediate portion of the drainage groove in the sash.

16. A casement window comprising a frame and a sash,said frame being formed of members having substantially the same cross sectional contour throughout the perimeter ofsaid frame, said sash provided with top, bottom and side members allof substantially the same cross sectional contour, said frame-and sash members each having three spaced offset continuous surfaces disposed in planes parallel to the plane of the window and adapted to contact with each other when the sash is closed, the outside dimensions of the sash measured in the plane of the sash being less than the corresponding inside dimensions of the frame so that no portions thereof except said continuous surfaces have contact with the frame when the sash is closed, a drainage groove formed in the periphery of said frame intermediate the innermost and next adjacent surfaces of contact, and a drainage groove formed in the periphery of said sash and adapted to substantially register with the drainage groove of the frame when the sash is closed.

1'7. A casement window comprising a frame and a sash, said frame being formed of members having substantially the same cross sectional contour throughout the perimeter of said frame, said sash provided with top, bottom and side members all of substantially the same cross sectional contour, said frame and sash members each having three spaced offset continuous surfaces disposed in planes parallel to the plane of the window and adapted to contact with each other when the sash is closed, the outside dimensions of the sash measured in the plane of the sash being less than the corresponding inside dimensions of the frame so that no portions thereof except said continuous surfaces have contact with the frame when the sash is closed.

JOSEPH N. VICTOR. 

